Fence



UNITE STATE s I FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,559, dated July 2'7, 1880.

Application filed April 8, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WORLEY LINVILLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at (Jarrville, in the county of Washington, State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Plank Fence; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved fence. Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal and cross section thereof in the line 00 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-section in the line 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal and cross section in the line as of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an edge elevation of the post-pieces of the fence, and Fig. 6 a side elevation ofone of said pieces. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of a portion of one of the base or foundation pieces, with a dovetail mortise cut through it, and showing the dovetail tenon on one of the post-pieces inserted into and longitudinally of said mortise. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, with the postpiece turned at right angles with the mortise, thereby locking the dovetail tenon of the postpiece in the dovetail mortise of the base-piece.

This invention relates to that description of plank or picket fence which' has its panels or sections united together by a key-post without the aid of nails; and the object'of my invention is to provide an improved key-post, in combination with adjustable braces and a wedgekey, whereby the panels or sections can be united together firmly whether the sills of the fence lie on a horizontal plane or an in: clined plane and whether such inclined plane is in the line of the panels or with the sills,

this combination being such that the panelscan be kept upright whether the sills incline downward parallel with or at right angles to the panels or sections.

Prior to my invention panel-fences have been provided with a key-post having a circular wedging projection on their lower end. Such fences have also been drawn together by a wedge-key applied above braces or parts of the fence. A fence of this class has also been made with a post having a dovetail projection on its lower end but this fence does not admit of the sills being inclined and of the parts being drawn together by a wedging-key when the sills are inclined.

The fence which I have invented as an improvement over others is as follows: A indicates the base or foundation pieces, B the posts, and O the planks. k and l represent an ordinary key and pin fastening, and f tilling-pieces between the planks O.

The base-pi'eces A have a mortise cut entirely through them, as at a. This mortise is of dovetail form (see Figs. v3 and 4;) in crosssection, and oblong lengthwise of the sill or base piece.

r The posts B are provided with dovetail tenons a on their lower ends, which are inserted fiatwise into the oblong mortises, and then turned around at right angles with the longest direction of said mortises, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, in which position the post-pieces composing the post B cannot be withdrawn from the base-piece A.

The mortises and the dovetails fit each other snugly, and by their bevel form they make an accommodating tightfitting joint between the post and the sill, whether the sill lies horizontal or is inclined to the right or left or in line with the fence, in accordance with the surface of the ground upon which the fence is erected.

For the purpose of bracing the fence when it occupies a position which is horizontal, or a position which is partly'inclined and partly horizontal, the sills are provided with two pairs of stop-notches, b b and 1) b and two braces, O O, and the sill is made longer on one side of its mortise than on the other. By this combination of notches, braces, and sill the fence can be kept vertical while its sills are inclined to it. This is effected by turning the sills around end for end and changing the braces from notches b b to notches b b.

When the inclination of the sills is away from the direction of the inclosed land the shifting of the braces from notches b b to b I) would insure an upright set of the panels, and when the inclination of the sills is toward the inclosed land, then the sills are turned end for end and the braces set into the notches 1 b When the sills and panels are horizontal the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Should the fence-panel run down hill and up hill the bevel-mortises a, and bevel projections or dovetails a will accommodate the panels, and still a tight joint between the parts can be maintained.

Above the braces and through the panels a key, k, is passed. This key clears the blocks or filling-pieces f between the planks 0, but binds against the planks a a forming the posts B, and also against the upper ends of thebraces G. The passages b through the post-pieces are beveled or tapering to conform to the wedge shape of the key 70 and upper angular bearingsurfaces of the braces. By this mode of combining the key, braces, and dovetail tenon and mortise the parts can be tightened up when the fence is first put up, and afterward if it gets loose. The parts also can be made tight whatever may be the set of the sills with respect to the panels.

In Fig. 1 an illustration is also given showing the post B, base-piece A, and braces G of my improved fence utilized for a picket-fence, such plan having only a top and bottom rail, g g, to which the pickets g are applied, the rails being held in place by wedge keys and pins, as indicated in the figures, and the pickets secured by nails or otherwise.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, in a portable fence, of the reversible sill A, having two or more pairs of stops or abutting notches, b b I) b and a dovetail mortise, a, which is nearerone end of the sill than the other, the post B, having dovetail tenon a and tapering passages b braces C G, and Wedge-key 70, substantially as and for the purpose described.

WORLEY LINVILLE.

Witnesses:

ISAAC H. HAMILTON, JOSEPH L. CLARK. 

